Monday, September 22, 2008

I Want My MTV

Let's face it, we can't imagine not having MTV nowadays.

But in the late '80s, the only source of music videos at that time (pre-MTV and Channel V in the Philippines) was the local channel RPN 9 with its one hour chock-full of music videos during those lazy Saturday afternoons. I would actually make it a point to stay in and watch the show. Fortunately, despite later warnings of turning into an ADD kid, I didn't.

One thing I did realize in the aftermath of my youth-- and pre-fast download speeds on the Internet-- is the fact that there some music videos that become your favorite despite the song and artist. I also wondered if people would eventually start collecting music videos the way kids would to collect playing cards or shoes.

Thanks to Youtube, my realization has come to the fore and we can now enjoy the aforementioned music videos. Thus, here's a handful of music videos that stuck to me all these years:

Cranberries' Promises

The first time I saw this video by this Irish band, I was essentially wow-ed by the song's hard-hitting tune and lyrics. But I also couldn't tear my attention away from the weird, ghostly storyline embedded in the music video. I suppose my later fascination of the Wild Weird West stories of Stephen King's The Gunslinger and Mark Sumner's dark magical West of sorcerers and shamans stem from this music video.

Garbage's Push It

What's not to like Garbage? However, this first song of Garbage from their sophomore album really blew down windmills in my mind, stomped them into the ground and told me sweetly, "Bite me". This was also the first time I saw the particular effects used in the music video, commonly used now in a number of horror movies. Some scary imagery there, plus Shirley Manson. You can never have enough of Shirley Manson.

The Cardigans' My Favorite Game

I'm sure most people know the reputation of this particular music video with its hyper-kinetic violent storyline. I admit I only knew about the safe edition until someone told me about the extended length of the video that had Nina Persson swerving all over the highway and overturning her car. Despite the fact that The Cardigans' was never a favorite band of mine (that is, not favored but not hated either), this is the quintessential driving song for me.

Madonna's Frozen

Whatever you think of Madonna, it doesn't matter in the face of this song and video with its surreal, haunting quality and fascinating special effects. And the dobermans look creepy, looking at you like they know what you're thinking. They're probably the same dobermans in The Exorcist.

So, if you had the option of collecting music videos (regardless of singer or song), what are your favorites?

Edited to add:Sean reminded me of this great video by Fatboy Slim. Unfortunately I can't seem to get an embed so you'll just have to settle for a link.

I'd pick Madonna's Frozen, too. That's what turned me on to Chris Cunningham's work. Much as I do like the album ,the song just lies there on record. It's much more vibrant and evocative as a video.

How about that ultracheesy (yet compulsively watchable) Macarena video? Those fat, old farts dancing around with those women? It's the surreal pinnacle of bad taste and I think it's like crack in that it's bad for you but you can't not watch it and get high. You can shoot me now. :)

I am a significant fan of animation in music videos, the pinnacle of which would probably be Pearl Jam's Evolution. Linkin Park's Points of Authority and A-ha's Take On Me are also worth mentioning, and Daft Punk's entire Discovery album is one of the few music-related items on my to-watch list.

Anything that uses special effects in a fairly subtle manner will also get my attention -- Jamiroquai's Virtual Insanity and Aerosmith's Pink are two of my favorites there. Fatboy Slim videos are always interesting to watch -- I'll offer Right Here, Right Now for your list.

Beyond those, I tend to like anything with a setting and a story of some kind. Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal is the only thing I can think of at the moment, though.

don: Well, I've never really latched on to Tori Amos' videos the way I do to her songs. Maybe because they were never showing while I was watching?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLCG5mNlxnI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uho2NQw1GY&feature=related

(and how come the guy here looks familiar?)

Her videos do look surreal enough-- though not compared to Bjork'!!! (Too many videos to cite! Especially the big bear! Arrgh!)

dodo: That Aphex looks freaky though I don't have audio running in my office PC so don't know how it all sounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Az_7U0-cK0

As to your choices, two thumbs up for anything by Radiohead (especially High and Dry, the exploding bomb version), Sabotage by Beastie Boys (fan-fucking-tastic funny video), and Astro by Radiocative Sago Project. Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice is an instant classic but you can't go wrong with Christopher Walken.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to assay '80s video without feeling embarrassed though but I would love to watch anything by Sigur Ros.*sigh*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ZtT4Th9Ys&feature=related

jp: Weird. The Schism video reminds me of modern art installations...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhjG47gtMCo

... but can't seem to access Prison Sex.

sean: True in that animated music videos are a class all their own. I distinctly remember being mesmerized by the Jamiroquai video. And if we're going to throw Fatboy Slim videos at each other, I'm going to go with The Joker:

Dies: Words

Quotes

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity. ALBERT EINSTEIN

I am still shocked that so many people are not more creative, by which I mean more demanding of themselves. The main question we need to ask ourselves is: Do I try to be necessary to the evolution of language? Do I try to be original? And being original means using the tools necessary to be original, not just having the desire to be original. PIERRE BOULEZ

Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death....Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. BERTRAND RUSSELL

I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us... We need the books that affect us like a disaster, that grieve us deeply, like the death of someone we loved more than ourselves, like being banished into forests far from everyone, like a suicide. A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us. FRANZ KAFKA

Obviously, then, I think a good critic in any field is a useful citizen, who is positively obliged to be harsh toward bad work. By a good critic, I mean a man with a good ear, a love for his field at best, and a broad and detailed knowledge of the techniques of the field. JAMES BLISH